Common Linux Questions Answered

There are several questions that crop up in one’s mind when opting for a career in IT. These questions are critical to their long-term growth in the chosen profession and worth considering. Here are some questions answered for those of you who are in the midst of making a career choice.

As cited on linfo.org, here are a couple of them answered.

1. What is the advantage of studying Linux when a number of jobs are being outsourced to developing countries to save cost?
A. The main reason to opt Linux is that you enjoy studying it. Linux does not assure job guarantee. Acquiring skills in Linux will only prove valuable in the long term, as it is known to be more valuable than Microsoft Windows skills. More importantly you must keep in mind that every job is not outsourced and there are a number of them that need to be performed locally which include, systems administration, security and help desk.

2: How good is a Linux certificate in comparison to an MCSE?
A: It is quite difficult to get a Linux certification with better compensation as there are lesser number of Linux specialists than MCSEs who have higher skill levels.

3: What is the significance of acquiring a Linux certification?
A: There is a lot of debate that run over this issue. Some feel that certification is essential for getting a specific job while others feel that experience is a must. Nonetheless, Linux is the best option for gaining certification in certain IT specialties.

4: How would the Linux job market appear in five or ten years from now?
A: The job market appears to be quite bright for Linux as it is predicted to grow swiftly with an increasing number of companies discovering its benefits. Also, Unix has been present for over three decades with various operating systems having come and gone. This has resulted in making it the oldest operating system being in use. You need to spend considerable time and effort in required to gain proficiency in Linux, hence the value of your investment should prolong over the long term.

5: What is the extent of knowledge that one must acquire to get a Linux-related job and the time invested to attain that level?
A: This will depend on what you wish to do. Whether you want to simply use Linux as many people use Microsoft Windows for word processing, spreadsheets, e-mail, etc. In such cases, you don’t need to study. In case you wish to be a system administrator or a security expert, it might require many years of deep study in the event you do not have a sound IT background.

6: IT jobs appear to have a dull outlook with the all time increase in outsourcing to low wage countries. There are people who have over ten years of Unix experience and desperate to get any kind of job. What makes you think the situation will improve?
A: Apart from outsourcing, many factors determine growth. These include the collapse of the Internet bubble, the ending of the huge IT expenditures for dealing with the Y2K problem and the extreme slump in the economy. With these factors diminishing over time, there is bound to be an upswing in the IT expenditures. The other factors that will have a positive impact on IT expenditures are the growing advancement of technology and the importance to businesses of using IT effectively for staying competitive.

7: In what fields can Linux skills help me in acquiring a good job when compared to the computer field?
A: There are several and they include many aspects of business, research, education and engineering. Nearly anything, that makes use of computers.

8: Is the employment situation for Linux experts the same as it is for Unix experts?
A: This is a tricky question as the skill sets for both these languages are highly transferable and the situation is likely to change with time. As per a latest search on monster.com, there were over 5,000 jobs with the "Unix" keyword and 2794 with the "Linux" keyword.

But a point worth nothing here is that even though Unix has a greater demand than Linux, the use of the latter in businesses is seeing a greater increase than Unix.

9: Is it good to mention Linux on your resume if you have been studying it over time on your own? In the absence of any job experience, is it good to mention Linux on your CV?
A: Yes you must as many Linux experts have never taken classes in it and began at a point of time with no on-the-job experience. Classroom experience is not a must and it is good to study at home. You must be clear about your qualifications on your resume and in interviews.

10: I can’t get a job in Linux even though I am really good at Linux. Companies won’t offer me job without prior job experience?
A: This situation will gradually change but in the meantime, you can gain experience by doing voluntary work at schools, church or small business in maintaining a Linux system. This will not only look good on your CV but also prove to be a valuable learning experience for you as you will be assisting others. 

http://www.efytimes.com/e1/fullnews.asp?edid=118258